(archaic form: , Jawi: ) a military title used in Indonesia and Malaysia, and historically in the Philippines. It means 'a commander of a body of troops' deriving from , a long-obsolete word for 'hand'.Poerwadarminta, 1986 In the past it is used to call some prominent military leaders in Malay world. The prominent Malacca and succeeding Johor Sultanates place the position of a as below that of a . Walter William Skeat writes that Semang tribes north of Malay Peninsula are often headed by shamans () also titled .
In modern times it is reserved for the chiefs of the armed forces of Indonesia and Malaysia and some other posts.
Use in Indonesia
As stipulated in article 10 of Indonesian Constitution, the President of Indonesia is the Supreme Commander of Indonesian Armed Forces (). Essentially it is parallel to the title 'Commander-in-Chief' in other countries, e.g. the United States.
During the Old Order era, this title is included into many honorific titles that were often mentioned each time Sukarno's name was written or read in speeches, edicts, or news.
In Indonesian National Armed Forces, the highest position overseeing the three branches—Army, Navy, and Air Force—is known as the ('Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces'). Before the National Police separated from the Armed Forces in 2000, the organization comprised four branches and was known as (ABRI). This included the TNI and the Police. The commander of the Armed Forces at that time was referred to as the , commonly abbreviated as .
According to the revised Constitution, the is appointed by the president, but the appointment must first be confirmed by the House of Representatives. Prior to the 2002 constitutional amendment, the president held the prerogative to appoint or dismiss the at their discretion.
The honorific title , meaning 'Grand Commander' was informally bestowed upon Sudirman, the first Commander of the Armed Forces and a key leader of guerilla war during Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1949).
Other military uses
The title is widely used across various branches and formations within the Indonesian Armed Forces, signifying its importance in military leadership roles:
Army The commander of Kostrad, a strategic reserve command within the Army, is referred to as the . Notably, the first Panglima Kostrad was Suharto, who later became the President of Indonesia (1968–1998), followed by Umar Wirahadikusumah, who went on to serve as the Vice President of Indonesia (1983–1988). The commanders of the 15 Regional Military Commands ( or ) are known as (). The commander of Kopassus, a special forces command within the Army, is referred to as the . Navy The commanders of the three Fleet Commands () hold the title (). The highest position in the Military Sea-lift Command ( or ) is held by the . The commander of Indonesian Marine Corps, the naval infantry and main amphibious warfare force of Indonesia within the Navy, is referred to as the . Air Force The commander of the National Air Defense Command ( or ) is referred to as the . The commander of the National Air Operations Command ( or ) is referred to as the . The commanders of the three Air Force Regional Commands ( or ) are titled . The commander of Kopasgat, the air force infantry and special forces corps of the Indonesian Air Force within the Air Force, is referred to as the .
Past usage Upon the formation of the Fourth Working Cabinet on 19 November 1963, the title was used for the commanders of each branch of the Indonesian Armed Forces.Aside from the three branches - Army, Navy, Air Force - Indonesian National Police was included in the Armed Forces since 1962 until it was excluded again in 2004. These commanders were also members of the Cabinet and were therefore given the title (Minister), appointed directly by the President. Their titles were as follows:
Minister/Commander of the Army (, abbreviated ) Minister/Commander of the Navy (, abbreviated ) Minister/Commander of the Air Force (, abbreviated ) Minister/Commander of the Police (, abbreviated ) This practice was discontinued during the New Order era, when the title was replaced with (Chief of Staff) for the commanders of the three military branches and for the Chief of the National Police.
Additionally, until January 2022, the National Air Defence Forces Command ( or ) also used the title for its highest position, , as well as for the commanders of each Air Defense Sector ( or ).
Use in Malaysia
In the Malaysian Armed Forces (), the highest position overseeing the branches—Army, Navy, and Air Force—is called the (officially translated as "'Chief of Defence Force'").
Each branch of the Malaysian Armed Forces is headed by a . Chief of Army is known as the , the Chief of Navy as the , and the Chief of Air Force as the . Each of these branches also has a deputy commander, titled (Deputy Chief).
Other uses The term 'Panglima' is also used in several titles within the orders and decorations of Malaysia, such as (P.M.N), (P.S.M.), (P.J.N.), and (P.S.D.).
Additionally, PASKAL, Royal Malaysian Navy's special operation force, is also referred to as .
Other usage Panglima Estino - 5th class municipality in the province of Sulu, Philippines. Panglima Sugala - 3rd class municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. RSS Panglima - was the first ship of the Republic of Singapore Navy. Naval Military Experts Institute, co-located in Changi Naval Base, is named RSS Panglima in honour of the first ship of the navy.
See also Penghulu Indonesian National Armed Forces Malaysian Armed Forces Orders, decorations, and medals of Malaysia
Notes
References Bachtiar, Harsja W. Siapa Dia?: Perwira Tinggi Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (Who is He?: Senior Officers of the Indonesian Army), Penerbit Djambatan, Jakarta, 1988, Poerwadarminta, W. J. S. Kamus Umum Bahasa Indonesia, Balai Pustaka, 1986 Sekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia. 30 Tahun Indonesia Merdeka (30 Years of Indonesian Independence) 1965–1973, 6th reprint, 1985
External links Official Website of TNI Official Website of the Department of Defense Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters Website Royal Malaysian awards and decorations